Italy - Friuli Flashcards
What is the general climate?
Warm maritime, especially in the south of the region, where warm air from the Adriatic Sea meets cooler influences from the Alps.
What is the average rainfall?
1200mm, one third higher than Bordeaux, with accompanying humidity. This requires extra work in the vineyard to combat diseases and makes organic viticulture challenging.
What is the topography of vineyards in the south of the region?
On the flat plain near the Adriatic sea.
What are the two zones of Friuli, and how are they separated?
The plain and the low hills. This corresponds to a broad distinction between everyday wines and higher quality ones.
The everyday wines, especially Merlot and P Grigio, are made from higher yielding fruit on the alluvial plain with rocky deposits, soils that are more fertile than the hillside sites.
Higher quality wines come from hillside vineyards with calcerous marl and sandstone. Soils include compacted marl known as ponca, with excellent drainage. Altitude is modest at 200m, but a range of slopes and exposure to wind contribute to lower yields, higher quality, and higher costs and prices.
What are two key DOCs in the plains area of Friuli?
5 in total. The most important are Grave del Friuli DOC (mostly volume wines) and Friuli Isonzo DOC (best quality from sites on the right bank of the river Isonzo neighbouring Collio).
What are two key DOCs in the hillside areas of Friuli?
Collio DOC and Collio Orientali del Friuli DOC. Generally higher quality wines.
How much of plantings does Pinot Grigio make up?
25%
What local varieties are grown in Friuli?
White:
Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia di Istria, Verduzzo and Picolit
Black:
Refosco, Schiopettino, Pignolo and Tazzalenghe.
What varieties are grown that are also found in Austria/Middle Europe?
Riesling, Welschriesling (here called Riesling Italico), Gewurz, Müller-Thurgau, Blaufränkisch (aka Franconia)
What French varieties are grown here?
Merlot, Sauvignonasse (Friulano), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Carmenere.
What is the breakdown of the top 6 varieties by percentage of plantings?
Pinot Grigio 25%
Merlot 15%
Friulano 9%
Chardonnay 7%
Sauvignon Blanc 7%
Cabernet Franc 7%
What is the typical profile of Friulano from Friuli?
Can either be made entirely in steel to preserve the aromatics (most common) or lightly oaked.
The best have a capacity to age.
Typically range from good to very good, and mid to premium.
Where is Ribolla Gialla found?
Only in Collio and Colli Orientali, as it requires hillside sites to prevent growing too vigorously.
